Metalloproteinase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

PCT No. PCT/GB96/02877 Sec. 371 Date May 22, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date May 22, 1998 PCT Filed Nov. 21, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/19053 PCT Pub. Date May 29, 1997Compounds of general formula (I) wherein X ia a -CO2H, -NH(OH)CHO or -CONHOH group; R1 is a cylcoalkyl, cycloalkenyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic ring containing up to 3 heteroatoms, any of which may be (i) substituted by one ore more substituents selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, halo, cyano (-CN), -CO2H, -CO2R, -CONH2, -CONHR, -CON(R)2, -OH, -OR, oxo-, -SH, -SR, -NHCOR, and -NHCO2R wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl or benzyl and/or (ii) fused to a cycloalky or heterocyclic ring; and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in specification are matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB96/02877 filed Nov. 21, 1996.

The present invention relates to therapeutically active hydroxamic acid.N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino and carboxylic acid derivatives, to processesfor their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them,and to the use of such compounds in medicine. In particular, thecompounds are inhibitors of metalloproteinases involved in tissuedegradation, and in addition are inhibitors of the release of tumournecrosis factor from cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compounds which have the property of inhibiting the action ofmetalloproteinases involved in connective tissue breakdown such ascollagenase, stromelysin and gelatinase (known as "matrixmetalloproteinases", and herein referred to as MMPs) are thought to bepotentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of conditionsinvolving such tissue breakdown, for example rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis, osteopenias such as osteoporosis, periodontitis,gingivitis, corneal epidermal or gastric ulceration, and tumourmetastasis, invasion and growth. MMP inhibitors are also of potentialvalue in the treatment of neuroinflammatory disorders, including thoseinvolving myelin degradation, for example multiple sclerosis, as well asin the management of angiogenesis dependent diseases, which includearthritic conditions and solid tumour growth as well as psoriasis,proliferative retinopathies, neovascular glaucoma, ocular tumours,angiofibromas and hemangiomas. However, the relative contributions ofindividual MMPs in any of the above disease states is not yet fullyunderstood.

Metalloproteinases are characterised by the presence in the structure ofa zinc(II) ionic site at the active site. It is now known that thereexists a range of metalloproteinase enzymes that includes fibroblastcollagenase (Type 1), PMN-collagenase, 72 kDa-gelatinase, 92kDa-gelatinase, stromelysin, stromelysin-2 and PUMP-1 (J. F. Woessner,FASEB J, 1991, 5, 2145-2154). Many known MMP inhibitors are peptidederivatives, based on naturally occuring amino acids, and are analoguesof the cleavage site in the collagen molecule. Chapman et al. (J. Med.Chem. 1993, 36, 4293-4301) report some general structure/activityfindings in a series of N-carboxyalkyl peptides. Other known MMPinhibitors are less peptidic in structure, and may more properly beviewed as pseudopeptides or peptide mimetics. Such compounds usuallyhave a functional group capable of binding to the zinc (II) site in theMMP, and known classes include those in which the zinc binding group isa hydroxamic acid, carboxylic acid, sulphydryl, and oxygenatedphosphorus (eg phosphinic acid and phosphonamidate includingaminophosphonic acid) groups.

Three known classes of pseudopeptide or peptide mimetic MMP inhibitorshave a hydroxamic acid group, N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino or a carboxylicgroup respectively as their zinc binding groups. With a few exceptions,such known MMPs may be represented by the structural formula (I)##STR2## in which X is the zinc binding hydroxamic acid (--CONHOH),N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino (--NH(OH)CHO) or carboxylic acid (--COOH) groupand the groups R₁ to R₅ are variable in accordance with the specificprior art disclosures of such compounds. Examples of patent publicationsdisclosing such structures are given below.

In such compounds, it is generally understood in the art that variationof the zinc binding group and the substituents R₁, R₂ and R₃ can have anappreciable effect on the relative inhibition of the metalloproteinaseenzymes. The group X interacts with metalloproteinase enzymes by bindingto a zinc(II) ion in the active site. Generally the hydroxamic acidgroup is preferred over the carboxylic acid group in terms of inhibitoryactivity against the various metalloproteinase enzymes. However, thecarboxylic acid group in combination with other substituents can provideselective inhibition of gelatinase (EP-489,577-A). The R₁, R₂ and R₃groups are believed to occupy respectively the P1, P1' and P2' aminoacid side chain binding sites for the natural enzyme substrate. There isevidence that a larger R₁ substituent can enhance activity againststromelysin, and that a (C₁ -C₆)alkyl group (such as isobutyl) at R₂ maybe preferred for activity against collagenase whilst a phenylalkyl group(such as phenylpropyl) at R₂ may provide selectivity for gelatinase overthe other metalloproteinases.

Tumour necrosis factor (herein referred to as "TNF") is a cytokine whichis produced initially as a cell-associated 28 kD precursor. It isreleased as an active, 17 kD form, which can mediate a large number ofdeleterious effects in vivo. When administered to animals or humans itcauses inflammation, fever, cardiovascular effects, haemorrhage,coagulation and acute phase responses, similar to those seen duringacute infections and shock states. Chronic administration can also causecachexia and anorexia. Accumulation of excessive TNF can be lethal.

There is considerable evidence from animal model studies that blockingthe effects of TNF with specific antibodies can be beneficial in acuteinfections, shock states, graft versus host reactions and autoimmunedisease. TNF is also an autocrine growth factor for some myelomas andlymphomas and can act to inhibit normal haematopoiesis in patients withthese tumours.

Compounds which inhibit the production or action of TNF are thereforethought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis ofmany inflammatory, infectious, immunological or malignant diseases.These include, but are not restricted to, septic shock, haemodynamicshock and sepsis syndrome, post ischaemic reperfusion injury, malaria,Crohn's disease, mycobacterial infection, meningitis, psoriasis,congestive heart failure, fibrotic disease, cachexia, graft rejection,cancer, autoimmune disease, AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, multiplesclerosis, radiation damage, toxicity following administration ofimmunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies such as OKT3 or CAMPATH-1 andhyperoxic alveolar injury.

Since excessive TNF production has been noted in several diseases orconditions also characterised by MMP-mediated tissue degradation,compounds which inhibit both MMPs and TNF production may have particularadvantages in the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases or conditions inwhich both mechanisms are involved.

As mentioned above MMP inhibitors have been proposed with hydroxamicacid, N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino or carboxylic acid zinc binding groups.The following patent publications disclose such MMP inhibitors:

    ______________________________________                                        US 4599361          (Searle)                                                    EP-A-2321081     (ICI)                                                        EP-A-0236872     (Roche)                                                      EP-A-0274453     (Bellon)                                                     WO 90/05716      (British Biotech)                                            WO 90/05719      (British Biotech)                                            WO 91/02716      (British Biotech)                                            WO 92/09563      (Glycomed)                                                   US 5183900       (Glycomed)                                                   US 5270326       (Glycomed)                                                   WO 92/17460      (SB)                                                         EP-A-0489577     (Celltech)                                                   EP-A-0489579     (Celltech)                                                   EP-A-0497192    (Roche)                                                       US 5256657      (Sterling)                                                    WO 92/13831      (British Biotech)                                            WO 92/22523      (Research Corp)                                              WO 93/09090      (Yamanouchi)                                                 WO 93/09097      (Sankyo)                                                     WO 93/20047      (British Biotech)                                            WO 93/24449      (Celltech)                                                   WO 93/24475      (Celltech)                                                   EP-A-0574758       (Roche)                                                    EP-A-0575844       (Roche)                                                    WO 94/02446       (British Biotech)                                           WO 94/02447       (British Biotech)                                           WO 94/21612       (Otsuka)                                                    WO 94/21625        (British Biotech)                                          WO 94/24140       (British Biotech)                                           WO 94/25434       (Celltech)                                                  WO 94/25435       (Celltech                                                   WO 95/04033       (Celltech)                                                  WO 95/04735       (Syntex)                                                    WO 95/04715       (Kanebo)                                                    WO 95/06031       (lmmunex)                                                   WO 95/09841       (British Biotech)                                           WO 95/12603       (Syntex)                                                    WO 95/19956       (British Biotech)                                           WO 95/19957      (British Biotech)                                            WO 95/19961       (British Biotech)                                           WO 95/19965       (Glycomed)                                                  WO 95/22966       (Sanofi Winthrop)                                           WO 95/23790       (SB)                                                      ______________________________________                                    

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention makes available a novel class of MMP inhibitors ofthe general structure (I) above with a hydroxamic acid,N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino or carboxylic acid zinc binding group X,principally characterised by the presence of a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenylor non-aromatic heterocyclic group as substituent R₁. Compounds of thenew class have good inhibitory potencies against various MMP enzymes,particularly collagenases and stromelysins. The class includes compoundswith appropriate aqueous solubility, pKa, log P and molecular weight forgood oral absorption. Also within the class are compounds which areeffective in inhibiting release of TNF from cells.

The patent publications listed above relating to hydroxamic andcarboxylic acid based MMP inhibitors, disclose MMP inhibitors having avariety of groups R₁, but none suggests or discloses compounds with R₁=cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl, nor the inhibitory, physicochemical orpharmacokinetic properties which might be expected of such compounds. WO95/19956 does disclose compounds wherein R₁ =non-aromatic heterocyclic,but in such cases R₄ is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl orheteroaryl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds of general formula (I) ##STR3##wherein: X is a --CO₂ H, --NH(OH)CHO or --CONHOH group;

R₁ is a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic ringcontaining up to 3 heteroatoms, any of which may be (i) substituted byone or more substituents selected from C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₂ -C₆ alkenyl,halo, cyano (--CN), --CO₂ H, --CO₂ R, --CONH₂, --CONHR, --CON(R)₂, --OH,--OR, oxo-, --SH, --SR, --NHCOR, and --NHCO₂ R wherein R is C₁ -C₆ alkylor benzyl and/or (ii) fused to a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring;

R₂ is a C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkynyl, phenyl(C₁ -C₆alkyl)-, heteroaryl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, cycloalkyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-,cycloalkenyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, phenoxy(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, heteroaryloxy(C₁-C₆ alkyl)-, phenyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)O(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, heteroaryl(C₁ -C₆alkyl)O(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, phenyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)S(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, orheteroaryl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)S(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)- group, any one of which may beoptionally substituted by C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halo, cyano(--CN), phenyl, substituted phenyl or heteroaryl.

R₃ is the characterising group of a natural or non-natural a amino acidin which any functional groups may be protected;

R₄ is

(a) an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl ring or

(b) (except in the case where R₁ is a substituted or unsubstitutednon-aromatic heterocyclic ring as defined above in relation to R₁) aheteroaryl ring which may be fused to a benzene or heteroaryl ring,either or both of which rings may be substituted, and in which any ringnitrogen atom may be oxidised as an N-oxide, or

(c) a group --CHR^(x) R^(y) wherein R^(x) and R^(y) each independentlyrepresents an optionally substituted phenyl or heteroaryl ring which maybe linked covalently to each other by a bond or by a C₁ -C₄ alkylene orC₂ -C₄ alkenylene bridge, or

(d) a group of formula --(Z--O)_(n) --Z wherein Z is straight orbranched C₁ -C₆ alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacentS and/or N atoms, n is an integer >1, and no continuous linear sequenceof atoms in the group R₄ is >12, or

(e) a straight or branched C₁ -C₆ alkyl group, optionally interrupted byone or more non-adjacent S and/or N atoms, which is substituted by atleast two substituents of formula --(Z)_(p) --(OZ)_(q) wherein Z isstraight or branched C₁ -C₆ alkyl optionally interrupted by one or morenon-adjacent S and/or N atoms, p is 0 or 1, q is 1 or 2, and nocontinuous linear sequence of atoms in the group R₄ is >12, or

(f) hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₄ perfluoroalkyl, or a group D-(C₁ -C₆alkyl)- wherein D is hydroxy, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ alkylthio,acylamino, optionally substituted phenyl or 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl,NH₂, or mono- or di-(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)amino; or R₃ and R₄ taken togetherrepresent a divalent chain of formula --C(R^(a))(R^(b))--A--Alk--wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are independently hydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl. A isa bond, --O--, --S--, --S--S--, --NH-- or --NR^(a) -- wherein R^(a) isC₁ -C₆ alkyl, and Alk is C₁ -C₆ alkylene;

R₅ is hydrogen or a C₁ -C₆ alkyl group;

or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof.

The term "cycloalkyl" as used herein means a saturated alicyclic ringhaving from 3-8 carbon atoms and includes, for example, cyclohexyl,cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, and cyclopropyl.

The term "cycloalkenyl" as used herein means an unsaturated alicyclicring having from 5-8 carbon atoms and includes, for example,cyclohexenyl, cyclooctenyl, cycloheptenyl, and cyclopentenyl. The ringmay contain more than one double bond.

The unqualified term "heterocyclic" or "heterocyclyl" as used hereinmeans (i) a 3-8 membered heterocyclic ring containing one or moreheteroatoms selected from S, N and O, and optionally fused to a benzenering, including for example, pyrrolyl, furyl, thienyl, imidazolyl,oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl,pyrimidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl,maleimido, succinimido, phthalimido,1,2-dimethyl-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazolidin4-yl,3-methyl-2,5-dioxo-1-imidazolidinyl and3,4,4-trimethyl-2,5-dioxo-1-imidazolidinyl, or (ii) a naphththalimido(ie 1, 3-dihydro-1, 3-dioxo-2H-benz[f]isoindol-2-yl), 1,3-dihydro-1-oxo-2H-benz[f]isoindol-2-yl, 1, 3-dihydro- 1,3-dioxo-2H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-2-yl, or 2,3-dihydro-1, 3-dioxo-1H-benz[d,e]isoquinolin-2-yl group.

The term "non-aromatic heterocyclic ring" means a 5-7 memberedheterocyclic ring containing one, two or three heteroatoms selected fromS, N and O in which at least two adjoining atoms are saturated. Examplesinclude morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,dihydrothienyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, dioxolanyl,oxathiolanyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl,pyranyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, oxathianyl, and piperazinyl.

The term "heteroaryl" means a 5-7 membered aromatic heterocyclic ringcontaining one or more heteroatoms. Illustrative of such rings arethienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl,isothiazolyl, trizolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl,pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl and triazinyl.

Unless otherwise specified in the context in which it occurs, the term"substituted" as applied to any moiety herein means substituted with aphenyl group or up to four substituents, each of which independently maybe (C₁ -C₆)alkoxy, hydroxy, mercapto, (C₁ -C₆)alkylthio, amino, halo(including fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo), cyano, trifluoromethyl,nitro, --COOH, --CONH₂, --CONHR^(A) or --CONR^(A) R^(A) wherein R^(A) isa (C_(1-C) ₆)alkyl group or the residue of a natural alpha-amino acid.

The term "side chain of a natural or non-natural alpha-amino acid" meansthe group R in a natural or non-natural amino acid of formula NH₂--CH(R)--COOH.

Examples of side chains of natural alpha amino acids include those ofalanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine,glutamic acid, histidine, 5-hydroxylysine, 4-hydroxyproline, isoleucine,leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine,tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, α-aminoadipic acid, α-amino-n-butyricacid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, homoserine, α-methylserine, ornithine,pipecolic acid, and thyroxine.

Natural alpha-amino acids which contain functional substituents, forexample amino, carboxyl, hydroxy, mercapto, guanidyl, imidazolyl, orindolyl groups in their characteristic side chains include arginine,lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, tryptophan, histidine, serine,threonine, tyrosine, and cysteine. When R₃ in the compounds of theinvention is one of those side chains, the functional substituent mayoptionally be protected.

The term "protected" when used in relation to a functional substituentin a side chain of a natural alpha-amino acid means a derivative of sucha substituent which is substantially non-functional. For example,carboxyl groups may be esterified (for example as a C₁ -C₆ alkyl ester),amino groups may be converted to amides (for example as a NHCOC₁ -C₆alkyl amide) or carbamates (for example as an NHC(═O)OC₁ -C₆ alkyl orNHC(═O)OCH₂ Ph carbamate), hydroxyl groups may be converted to ethers(for example an OC₁ -C₆ alkyl or a O(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)phenyl ether) oresters (for example a OC(═O)C₁ -C₆ alkyl ester) and thiol groups may beconverted to thioethers (for example a tert-butyl or benzyl thioether)or thioesters (for example a SC(═O)C₁ -C₆ alkyl thioester).

Examples of side chains of non-natural alpha amino acids include thosereferred to below in the discussion of suitable R₃ groups for use incompounds of the present invention.

Salts of the compounds of the invention include physiologicallyacceptable acid addition salts for example hydrochlorides,hydrobromides, sulphates, methane sulphonates, p-toluenesulphonates,phosphates, acetates, citrates, succinates, lactates, tartrates,fumarates and maleates. Salts may also be formed with bases, for examplesodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium salts.

There are several chiral centres in the compounds according to theinvention because of the presence of asymmetric carbon atoms. Thepresence of several asymmetric carbon atoms gives rise to a number ofdiastereomers with R or S stereochemistry at each chiral centre. Generalformula (I), and (unless specified otherwise) all other formulae in thisspecification are to be understood to include all such stereoisomers andmixtures (for example racemic mixtures) thereof.

In the compounds of the invention, the preferred stereochemistry is ingeneral as follows:

C atom carrying the R₁ and X groups--S,

C atom carrying the R₂ group--R.

C atom carrying the R₃ group--S,

but mixtures in which the above configurations predominate are alsocontemplated.

In the compounds of the invention the group R₁ may be, for example.cyclohexyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopentyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothien-3-yl, 1,1-dioxo-tetrahydrothien-3-yl, N-acetylpiperidin-4-yl,N-methylpiperidin-4-yl or morpholin-4-yl. Particularly preferred atpresent are the cases where R₁ is cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl andcyclopropyl.

As previously stated, the compounds of the present invention areprincipally distinguished from the compounds disclosed in the priorpatent publications listed above by the identity of the group R₁.Accordingly the groups R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ may include those which havebeen disclosed in the corresponding positions of compounds disclosed inany of those prior art patent publications listed above. Withoutlimiting the generality of the foregoing, examples of substituents R₂,R₃, R₄, and R₅ are given below:

R₂ may for example be C₁ -C₁₂ alkyl, C₃ -C₆ alkenyl, phenyl(C₁ -C₆alkyl)- or phenoxy(C₁ -C₆ alkyl) optionally substituted in the phenylring by halogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy or phenyl. Specificexamples of such groups include iso-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl,n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, phenylpropyl, 4-chlorophenylpropyl,4-methylphenylpropyl, 4-methoxyphenylpropyl, 4-phenyl-phenylpropyl andphenoxybutyl. Presently preferred are compounds in which R₂ isiso-butyl, n-octyl, benzyloxypropyl, phenoxybutyl or4-phenyl-phenylpropyl.

R₃ may for example be C₁ -C₆ alkyl, benzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-hydroxybenzyl,2,- 3-, or 4-benzyloxybenzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-C₁ -C₆ alkoxybenzyl, orbenzyloxy(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-group; or

the characterising group of a natural α amino acid, in which anyfunctional group may be protected, any amino group may be acylated andany carboxyl group present may be amidated; or

a group --[Alk]_(n) R₆ where Alk is a (C₁ -C₆)alkyl or (C₂ -C₆)alkenylgroup optionally interrupted by one or more --O--, or --S-- atoms or--N(R₇)-- groups [where R₇ is a hydrogen atom or a (C₁ -C₆)alkyl group],n is 0 or 1, and R₆ is an optionally substituted cycloalkyl orcycloalkenyl group; or

a benzyl group substituted in the phenyl ring by a group of formula--OCH₂ COR₈ where R₈ is hydroxyl, amino, (C₁ -C₆)alkoxy, phenyl(C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₁ -C₆)alkylamino, di((C₁ -C₆)alkyl)amino, phenyl(C₁-C₆)alkylamino, the residue of an amino acid or acid halide, ester oramide derivative thereof, said residue being linked via an amide bond,said amino acid being selected from glycine, α or β alanine, valine,leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, serine,threonine, cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, lysine,histidine, arginine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid; or

a heterocyclic(C₁ -C₆)alkyl group, either being unsubstituted or mono-or di-substituted in the heterocyclic ring with halo, nitro, carboxy,(C₁ -C₆)alkoxy, cyano, (C₁ -C₆)alkanoyl, trifluoromethyl (C₁ -C₆)alkyl,hydroxy, formyl, amino, (C₁ -C₆)alkylamino, di-(C₁ -C₆)alkylamino,mercapto, (C₁ -C₆)alkylthio, hydroxy(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, mercapto(C₁ -C₆)alkylor (C₁ -C₆)alkylphenylmethyl; or

a group --CR_(a) R_(b) R_(c) in which:

each of R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) is independently hydrogen, (C₁ -C₆)alkyl,(C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkynyl, phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl; or

R_(c) is hydrogen, (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkynyl,phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, or (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkyl, and R_(a) and R_(b) togetherwith the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3 to 8 memberedcycloalkyl or a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring; or

R_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) together with the carbon atom to which they areattached form a tricyclic ring (for example adamantyl); or

R_(a) and R_(b) are each independently (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl,(C₂ -C₆)alkynyl, phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, or a group as defined for R_(c)below other than hydrogen, or R_(a) and R_(b) together with the carbonatom to which they are attached form a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring,and R_(c) is hydrogen, --OH, --SH, halogen, --CN, --CO₂ H, (C₁-C₄)perfluoroalkyl, --CH₂ OH, --CO₂ (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --O(C₁ -C₆)alkyl,--O(C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, --S(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --SO(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --SO₂ (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --S(C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, --SO(C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, --SO₂ (C₂ --C₆)alkenylor a group --Q--W wherein Q represents a bond or --O--, --S--, --SO-- or--SO₂ -- and W represents a phenyl, phenylalkyl, (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkylalkyl. (C₄ -C₈)cycloalkenyl, (C₄ -C₈)cycloalkenylalkyl,heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl group, which group W may optionally besubstituted by one or more substituents independently selected from,hydroxyl, halogen, --CN, --CO₂ H, --CO₂ (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --CONH₂,--CONH(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --CONH(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)₂, --CHO, --CH₂ OH, (C₁-C₄)perfluoroalkyl, --O(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --S(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --SO(C₁-C₆)alkyl, --SO₂ (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --NO₂, --NH₂, --NH(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --N((C₁-C₆)alkyl)₂, --NHCO(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)alkynyl, (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkyl, (C₄ -C₈)cycloalkenyl, phenyl or benzyl.

Examples of particular R₃ groups include benzyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl,1-fluoro-1-methylethyl, 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl,1-methoxy-1-methylethyl, 1-benzylthio-1-methylethyl,1-methylthio-1-methylethyl and 1-mercapto-1-methylethyl. Presentlypreferred are compounds in which R₃ is t-butyl or1-mercapto-1-methylethyl.

R₄ may for example be

cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl cycloheptyl, cyclooctylor adamantyl;

optionally substituted phenyl, napthyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolinyl,tetrahydrofuranyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl,pyridinyl, pyridinyl N-oxides, piperazinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl,benzotriazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, dithianyl,benzo[b]thienyl, isoxazolyl or quinolinyl. Examples of particular R₄groups of this type include phenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl,4-methoxyphenyl, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 2-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorophenyl,4-fluorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl,3,4-dichlorophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 3-bromophenyl,4-bromophenyl, 2-iodophenyl, 3-iodophenyl, 4-iodophenyl, 2-methylphenyl,3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 3,4-dimethyl, 2-t-butylphenyl,3-t-butylphenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 4-t-butyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl,2-nitrophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 2-cyanophenyl,3-cyanophenyl, 4-cyanophenyl, 2-acetylphenyl, 3-acetylphenyl,4-acetylphenyl, 2-methylsulphonylphenyl, 3-methylsulphonylphenyl,4-methylsulphonylphenyl, 2-trifluoromethylphenyl,3-trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl,3,5-ditrifluoromethylphenyl, 2-aminophenyl, 3-aminophenyl,4-aminophenyl, 2-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl, 3-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl,4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl, 2-hydroxyphenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl,4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-napthyl, furan-2-yl, thien-2-yl, pyrrol-2-yl,tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, imidazol-2-yl, thiazol-2-yl,4-ethoxycarbonylmethylthiazol-2-yl, 4-phenylthiazol-2-yl, 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl, 5-bromothiazol-2-yl, 4-tert-butylthiazol-2-yl,benzothiazol-2-yl, 1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl, 3-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl,3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl, 1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl,1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl, 1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl,3-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl, N-oxidesof pyridin-2-yl pyridin-3-yl and pyridin4-yl, piperazin-1-yl,indol-2-yl, benzimidazol-2-yl, benzotriazol-2-yl, pyrazin-2-yl,1,2-pyridazin-3-yl, 1,3-pyrimidin-5-yl, 1,3-dithian-2-yl,benzo[b]thien-2-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, quinolin-3-yl. Presently preferredare compounds in which R₄ is phenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, pyridin-2-yl,pyridin-3-yl, and thiazol-2-yl, 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl,5-bromothiazol-2-yl, 4-ethoxycarbonylmethylthiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl or 4-tertbutylthiazol-2-yl. Particularly preferredR₄ groups of this type are 3-methoxyphenyl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl,thiazol-2-yl, 4-ethoxycarbonylmethylthiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl or 4-tert-butylthiazol-2-yl;

a group --CHR^(x) R^(y) wherein R^(x) and R^(y) independently representoptionally substituted phenyl, thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl,thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, triazolyl, thiadiazolyl,oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinolyl, pyrimidinyl, piperazinyl ortriazinyl. Examples of particular R^(x) and R^(y) include phenyl and4-chlorophenyl. Where R^(x) and R^(y) are linked covalently, an exampleof a group R₄ is 9-H-fluoren-9-yl;

a polyether chain possessing at least two non-adjacent oxygen atoms, forexample 2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 1, 1-dimethyl-2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl,2-(2-ethoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl,2-(2-(3-methoxypropoxymethoxy)ethyl, 3-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl,2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl,3-(2-methoxyethoxy)propyl, 2-methyl-2,2-d i(2-methoxyethyl)propyl,2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxyethyl)butyl, and2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxymethyl)propyl. A presently preferred R₄ groupof this type is 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl;

hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n- or iso-propyl, n-, sec- or tert-butyl,hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl,methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-methoxypropyl,2,2-dimethyl-3-ethoxypropyl, 2-ethylthioethyl, 2-acetoxyethyl,N-acetyl-aminoethyl, 3-(2-pyrrolidone)propyl, optionally substitutedphenylethyl eg 2-phenyl-2-methyleth-2-yl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, orphenylpentyl. Presently preferred R₄ groups of this type are hydrogen ormethyl.

Where R₃ and R₄ taken together represent a divalent chain of formula--C(R^(a))(R^(b))--A--Alk-- wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are independentlyhydrogen or C₁ -C₆ alkyl, A is a bond, --O----S--, --S--S--, --NH-- or--NR^(a) -- wherein R^(a) is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, and Alk is C₁ -C₆ alkylene,examples of such divalent chains include --C(CH₃)₂ SCH₂ CH₂ CH₂ --, and--C(CH₃)₂ SSCH₂ CH₂ --.

R₅ may for example be hydrogen, methyl or ethyl. Presently preferred arecompounds in which R₅ is hydrogen.

An example of a specific compound of the invention which is presentlypreferred for its activity in inhibiting TNF release from cells, and forits activity as a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor, is 2S-cyclopentyl-N⁴-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl)]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, and salts solvates and hydratesthereof.

Other interesting compounds of the invention include those disclosed inExamples 1, 3-17, and 19-33 herein, and their salts hydrates andsolvates.

Compounds according to the present invention in which X is a hydroxamicacid group --CONHOH may be prepared from corresponding compounds of theinvention in which X is a carboxylic acid group --COOH or from thecorresponding protected hydroxamic acid derivatives. That process, whichforms another aspect of the invention, comprises causing an acid ofgeneral formula (II) ##STR4## or an activated derivative thereof toreact with hydroxylamine, O-protected hydroxylamine, or anN,O-diprotected hydroxylamine, or a salt thereof, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅being as defined in general formula (I) except that any substituents inR₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ which are potentially reactive withhydroxylamine, O-protected hydroxylamine, the N,O-diprotectedhydroxylamine or their salts may themselves be protected from suchreaction, then removing any protecting groups from the resultanthydroxamic acid moiety and from any protected substituents in R₁, R₂,R₃, R₄, and R₅

Conversion of (II) to an activated derivative such as thepentafluorophenyl, hydroxysuccinyl, or hydroxybenzotriazolyl ester maybe effected by reaction with the appropriate alcohol in the presence ofa dehydrating agent such as dicyclohexyl dicarbodiimide (DCC),N,N-dimethylaminopropyl-N¹ -ethyl carbodiimide (EDC), or2-ethoxy-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ).

Protecting groups as referred to above are well known per se, forexample from the techniques of peptide chemistry. Amino groups are oftenprotectable by benzyloxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl or acetyl groups, orin the form of a phthalimido group. Hydroxy groups are often protectableas readily cleavable ethers such as the t-butyl or benzyl ether, or asreadily cleavable esters such as the acetate. Carboxy groups are oftenprotectable as readily cleavable esters, such as the t-butyl or benzylester.

Examples of O-protected hydroxylamines for use in method (a) aboveinclude O-benzylhydroxylamine, O-4-methoxybenzylhydroxylamine,O-trimethylsilylhydroxylamine, and O-tert-butoxycarbonylhydroxylamine.

Examples of O,N-diprotected hydroxylamines for use in method (a) aboveinclude N,O-bis(benzyl)hydroxylamine,N,O-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)hydroxylamine,N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-O-tert-butyldimethylsilylhydroxylamine,N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-O-tetrahydropyranylhydroxylamine, andN,O-bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)hydroxylamine.

Compounds according to the present invention in which X is a carboxylicacid group --COOH, ie compounds of formula (II) above, may be preparedby a process comprising: coupling an acid of formula (III) or anactivated derivative thereof with an amine of formula (IV) ##STR5##wherein R₁ R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are as defined in general formula (I)except that any substituents in R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ which arepotentially reactive in the coupling reaction may themselves beprotected from such reaction, and R₁₁ represents a hydroxy protectinggroup, and subsequently removing the protecting group R₁₁ and anyprotecting groups from R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅.

Active derivatives of acids (III) include activated esters such as thepentafluorophenyl ester, acid anhydrides and acid halides, eg chlorides.Suitable hydroxy protecting groups may be selected from those known inthe art.

Amino acid amides of formula (IV) are either known or are prepared byroutine known synthetic methods. Compounds of formula (III) may beprepared by one or more of the following routes:

Route 1: By Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of compounds of formula (V) toproducts (VI) ##STR6## in which formulae R₁ and R₁₁ have the meaningsascribed to them in formula (III), and R_(a) -R_(e) are substituentsselected so that the partial structure (VII) ##STR7## corresponds to thedesired R₂ substituent in compound (III).

Claisen rearrangement of allyl enol ethers is useful forstereocontrolled carbon-carbon bond formation (for recent reviews see P.Wipf in Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, Vol. 5 (Eds.: B. M. Trost, I.Fleming, L. A. Paquette) Pergamon, New York, 1991, p 827; S. Blechert,Synthesis, 1989, 71; F. E. Zeigler, Chem. Rev., 1988, 88, 1423). Amongthe available methods for effecting this [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangementis the Ireland-Claisen procedure, by which a silyl ketene acetal of anallyl ester can be converted to an a-allyl carboxylic acid. Aparticularly important aspect of the Ireland Claisen rearrangement isthat, through efficient control of ketene acetal geometry, a highlyreliable transfer of stereochemistry from starting material to productcan be realised (R. E. Ireland, P. Wipf and J. D. Armstrong, J. Org.Chem. 1991, 56, 650; ibid 56, 3572).

The rearrangement may be effected in an aprotic solvent such astetrahydrofuran, by first converting the substituted allyl ester (V) tothe enol form, for example by treatment with a strong organic base, suchas lithium diisopropylamine, followed by silylation of the enol hydroxygroup, using a silylating agent (eg trimethylsilyl chloride,triethylsilyl chloride, tripropylsilyl chloride, tert-butyidimethylsilylchloride, or tert-butyidiphenylsilyl chloride). The resultant silylketene acetal then undergoes the desired rearrangement to produce thereadily hydrolysable silyl ester of compound (V). In the foregoingprocedure, enolisation and silylation are preferably effected at lowtemperature, eg -70° C. or lower, and the rearrangement may be inducedby raising the temperature, eg to about 4° C. to 55° C.

The allylic double bond of product (VI) of the rearrangement of (V) maybe reduced, for example by catalytic hydrogenation, to form compounds(VIA), in which R₁ and R₁₁ have the meanings ascribed to them in formula(III), and R_(a) -R_(e) are substituents selected so that the partialstructure (VIIA) ##STR8## corresponds to the desired R₂ substituent incompound (III).

This Route 1 to compounds (III) involving rearrangement of compounds(IV) to (V), possibly followed by reduction of the allylic double bond,represents a novel application of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement tothe synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted succinates.

Route 2: By Ireland-Claisen rearrangement (as discussed above inrelation to Route 1 of compounds of formula (VIII) to products (IX)##STR9## in which formulae R₂ and R₁₁ have the meanings ascribed to themin formula (III), and R_(a) -R_(e) are substituents selected so that thepartial structure (VII) ##STR10## corresponds to the desired R₁substituent in compound (III). In this instance, the groups R_(a) andR_(d) are linked to form part of the desired alicyclic or heterocyclicring, R₁. Again the double bond in partial structure (VI) of product(IX) may be reduced to form compounds (IXA) ##STR11## in which R₁ andR₁₁ have the meanings ascribed to them in formula (III), and R_(a)-R_(e) are substituents selected so that the partial structure (VIIA)corresponds to the desired R₁ substituent in compound (III).

This Route 2 to compounds (III) involving rearrangement of compounds(VIII) to (IX), possibly followed by reduction of the allylic doublebond, represents a novel application of the Ireland-Claisenrearrangement to the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted succinates.

Route 3: By alkylation of a succinate of formula (X) with an alkylatingagent R₁ -L, or by alkylation of a succinate of formula (XA) with analkylating agent R₂ -L, where L is a suitable leaving group such aschloride, bromide, iodide, triflate or mesylate, ##STR12## wherein R₁,R₂, and R₁₁ are as defined in relation to formula (III) above.

Succinates of formula (V), (VI), (VIII), (IX), (X) and (XA) insofar asthey are not known from the literature can be prepared, in homochiralform if desired, by methods known in the art. In the special case whereR₁ is a nitrogen-containing heterocycle linked through a nitrogen atom,compounds of formula (III) may be prepared according to Route 1 from asuitably protected aspartic acid derivative (XI) ##STR13## wherein R₁,and R₁₂ are carboxyl protecting groups, and R₁₆ and R₁₇ taken togetherwith the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form the desirednitrogen containing non-aromatic heterocyclic group R₁.

Compounds of the invention in which X is an N-formyl-N-hydroxyaminogroup may be prepared by deprotecting an N-protectedN-formyl-N-hydroxyamino compound of formula (XII): ##STR14## in whichR₂₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are as defined in general formula (I) and R₁₃ isa group convertible to a hydroxy group by hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis.Benzyl is a preferred R₁₃ group for removal by hydrogenolysis, andtetrahydropyranyl is a preferred group for removal by acid hydrolysis.

Compounds of formula (XII) may be prepared by a process comprising:causing an acid of formula (XIII) or an activated derivative thereof toreact with an amine of formula (IV) as defined above ##STR15## whereinR₁ and R₂ are as defined in general formula (I) except that anysubstituents in R₁ and R₂ which are potentially reactive in the couplingreaction may themselves be protected from such reaction, and R₁₃ is agroup convertible to a hydroxy group by hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis asreferred to in connection with formula (XII) above, and optionallyremoving protecting groups from R₁ and R₂, and from R₃, R₄, and R₅ inthe amine (IV).

Compounds of formula (XIII) may be prepared by N-formylation, forexample using acetic anhydride and formic acid, of compounds of formula(XIV) ##STR16## wherein R₁, R₂ and R₁₆ are as defined in relation toformula (XII).

As mentioned above, compounds of formula (I) are useful in human orveterinary medicine since they are active as inhibitors of MMPs, and afurther advantage lies in their ability to inhibit the release of tumournecrosis factor (TNF) from cells.

Accordingly in another aspect, this invention concerns:

(i) a method of management (by which is meant treatment or prophylaxis)of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs and/or TNF in mammals, inparticular in humans, which method comprises administering to the mammalan effective amount of a compound as defined with respect to formula (I)above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and

(ii) a compound as defined with respect to formula (I) for use in humanor veterinary medicine, particularly in the management (by which ismeant treatment or prophylaxis) of diseases or conditions mediated byMMPs and/or TNF; and

(iii) the use of a compound as defined with respect to formula (I) inthe preparation of an agent for the management (by which is meanttreatment or prophylaxis) of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPsand/or TNF.

Diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs include those involving tissuebreakdown such as bone resorption, inflammatory diseases, dermatologicalconditions and tumour invasion by secondary metastases, in particularrheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, periodontitis, gingivitis, cornealulceration and tumour invasion by secondary metastases as well asneuroinflammatory disorders, including those involving myelindegradation, for example multiple sclerosis. Diseases or conditionsmediated by TNF include inflammation, fever, cardiovascular effects,haemorrhage, coagulation and acute phase response, cachexia andanorexia, acute infections, shock states, graft versus host reactionsand autoimmune disease.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a pharmaceuticalor veterinary composition comprising a compound of formula (I) togetherwith a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable excipient or carrier.In view of the water-solubility, and oral bioavailability advantanges ofcompounds in accordance with the invention, a further aspect of theinvention comprises a pharmaceutical or veterinary compositioncomprising a compound of formula (I) together with a pharmaceutically orveterinarily acceptable excipient or carrier, characterised in that thecomposition is adapted for oral administration.

One or more compounds of general formula (I) may be present in thecomposition together with one or more excipient or carrier.

The compounds with which the invention is concerned may be prepared foradministration by any route consistent with their pharmacokineticproperties. The orally administrable compositions may be in the form oftablets, capsules, powders, granules, lozenges, liquid or gelpreparations, such as oral, topical, or sterile parenteral solutions orsuspensions. Tablets and capsules for oral administration may be in unitdose presentation form, and may contain conventional excipients such asbinding agents, for example syrup, acacia, gelatin, sorbitol,tragacanth, or polyvinyl-pyrrolidone; fillers for example lactose,sugar, maize-starch, calcium phosphate, sorbitol or glycine; tablettinglubricant, for example magnesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol orsilica; disintegrants for example potato starch, or acceptable wettingagents such as sodium lauryl sulphate. The tablets may be coatedaccording to methods well known in normal pharmaceutical practice. Oralliquid preparations may be in the form of, for example, aqueous or oilysuspensions, solutions, emulsions, syrups or elixirs, or may bepresented as a dry product for reconstitution with water or othersuitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may containconventional additives such as suspending agents, for example sorbitol,syrup, methyl cellulose, glucose syrup, gelatin hydrogenated ediblefats; emulsifying agents, for example lecithin, sorbitan monooleate, oracacia: non-aqueous vehicles (which may include edible oils), forexample almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, oily esters such asglycerine, propylene glycol, or ethyl alcohol; preservatives, forexample methyl or propyl p-hydroxybenzoate or sorbic acid, and ifdesired conventional flavouring or colouring agents.

The dosage unit involved in oral administration may contain from about 1to 250 mg, preferably from about 5 to 100 mg of a compound of theinvention. A suitable daily dose for a mammal may vary widely dependingon the condition of the patient. However, a dose of a compound ofgeneral formula I of about 0.1 to 10 mg/kg body weight, particularlyfrom about 0.1 to 3mg/kg body weight may be appropriate.

For topical application to the skin, the drug may be made up into acream, lotion or ointment. Cream or ointment formulations which may beused for the drug are conventional formulations well known in the art,for example as described in standard textbooks of pharmaceutics such asthe British Pharmacopoeia.

For topical application to the eye, the drug may be made up into asolution or suspension in a suitable sterile aqueous or non aqueousvehicle. Additives, for instance buffers such as sodium metabisulphiteos disodium edeate; preservatives including bactericidal and fungicidalagents such as phenyl mercuric acetate or nitrate, benzalkonium chlorideor chlorhexidine, and thickening agents such as hypromellose may also beincluded.

The dosage for topical administration will of course depend on the sizeof the area being treated. For the eyes, each dose may typically be inthe range from 10 to 100 mg of the drug.

The active ingredient may also be administered parenterally in a sterilemedium. Depending on the vehicle and concentration used, the drug caneither be suspended or dissolved in the vehicle. Advantageously,adjuvants such as a local anaesthetic, preservative and buffering agentscan be dissolved in the vehicle.

For use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the drug can beadministered by the oral route or by injection intra-articularly intothe affected joint.

Examples 1 and 3-33 which follow serve to illustrate embodiments of theinvention:

The following abbreviations have been used throughout:

    ______________________________________                                        DIPE      Diisopropyl ether                                                     DMAP      4-Dimethyl-aminopyridine                                            DMF       N,N-Dimethylformamide                                               EDC       N-Ethyl-N'-(3-                                                            dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride                          HOBt      1-Hydroxybenzotriazole                                              NMR       Nuclear magnetic resonance                                          NMM       N-methylmorpholine                                                  NaHMDS    Sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide                                     TESCI     Chlorotriethylsilane                                                TFA       Trifluoroacetic acid                                                THF       Tetrahydrofuran                                                     TLC       Thin layer chromatography                                         ______________________________________                                    

¹ H and ¹³ C NMR spectra were recorded using a Bruker AC 250Espectrometer at 250.1 and 62.9 MHz, respectively. Elementalmicroanalyses were performed by either CHN Analysis Ltd., Alpha House,Countesthorpe Road, South Wigston, Leicester LE8 2PJ, UK, or MEDAC Ltd.,Dept. of Chemistry, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK.

EXAMPLE 1

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR17##

STEP A:

4R-Benzyl-3-cyclopentylacetyl-oxazolidin-2-one

Cyclopentyl acetic acid (59 ml, 470.4 mmol) was taken up in dry THF (1l) and cooled to -78° C. under argon. Pivaloyl chloride (58 ml, 470.4mmol) and triethylamine (85 ml, 611.5 mmol) were added and the reactionmixture stirred for 15 min at -78° C. and then warmed to 0° C. andstirred for 40 min before cooling back to -78° C. In a separate flask,4R-benzyl-oxazolidin-2-one (100 g, 564.5 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF(1 l) and the solution was cooled to -78° C. under argon. To thisstirred solution was added 2.5 M n-butyllithium in hexanes (226 ml, 565mmol). After the addition was complete the resulting solution wascannulated into the former reaction flask and the mixture was stirredfor a further 15 minutes at -78° C. before warming to room temperatureand stirring overnight. The reaction was quenched by addition of 1 Mpotassium hydrogen carbonate solution (600 ml). The solvents wereremoved under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted into ethylacetate (x3). The combined ethyl acetate extracts were washed withbrine, dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered. The solution wasconcentrated under reduced pressure to give a yellow oil whichcrystallised on standing (139.8 g, including residual solvent). ¹ H-NMR;δ (CDCl₃), 7.37-7.20 (5H, m), 4.69 (1 H, m), 4.23-4.12 (2H. m), 3.30(1H, dd, J=13.3, 3.3 Hz), 3.04 (1H, dd, J=16.6. 7.1 Hz), 2.91 (1H, dd,J=16.6, 7.1 Hz), 2.77 (1H, dd, J=13.3, 3.3 Hz), 2.34 (1H, m), 1.94-1.83(2H, m), 1.69-1.52 (4H, m) and 1.30-1.14 (2H, m).

STEP B:

4-(4R-Benzyl-2-oxo-oxazolidin-3-yl-3R-cyclopentyl-4-oxo-butyric acidtert-butyl ester

4R-Benzyl-3-cyclopentylacetyl-oxazolidin-2-one (Step A) (135 g, 469.8mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (2 l) and the solution was cooled to -78°C. under argon. To this cooled solution was added a 1.0 M solutionNaHMDS in THF (705 ml, 705 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred fora further 1 hour at -78° C., tert-butyl bromoacetate (114 ml, 705 mmol)was added and the reaction mixture was then stored in the freezer (-20°C.) for 48 hours. A saturated solution of ammonium chloride (500 ml) wasadded and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resultingaqueous residue was extracted into ethyl acetate (x3). The ethyl acetateextracts were combined, washed with brine, dried over magnesiumsulphate, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a whitesolid. Recrystallisation from ethyl acetate/hexane gave the desiredproduct (98.5 g, 52%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃), 7.38-7.23 (5H, m), 4.67 (1 H,m), 4.25 (1 H, m), 4.15-4.13 (2H, m), 3.38 (1H, dd, J=13.5, 3.2 Hz),2.86 (1H, dd, J=16.8, 11.2 Hz), 2.73 (1H, dd, J =13.5, 11.2 Hz), 2.53(1H, dd, J=16.8, 3.2 Hz), 2.00 (1H, m), 1.83-1.44 (6H, m), 1.42 (9H, s)and 1.41-1.17 (2H, m).

STEP C:

2R-Cyclopentylsuccinic acid 1-benzyl ester 4-tert-butyl ester

Benzyl alcohol (40 ml, 386.1 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (800 ml) andthe solution was placed under argon and cooled to -5° C. using amethanol/ice bath. To this stirred solution was added 2.5Mn-butyllithium in hexanes (116 ml, 290 mmol) slowly over a period of 45minutes, so that the temperature remained below 0° C. throughout theaddition. After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture wasstirred for a further 40 minutes at -5° C. Separately, a solution of4-(4R-benzyl-2-oxo-oxazolidin-3-yl-3R-cyclopentyl-4-oxo-butyric acidtert-butyl ester (Step B) (77.9 g, 193 mmol) in dry THF (400 ml) wasplaced under argon, cooled to -5° C. and cannulated into the formerreaction flask and the mixture was stirred for a further 15 minutes at-5° C., before warming to room temperature and stirring overnight. Thereaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution (450ml), the solvents were removed under reduced pressure and the residuewas extracted with ethyl acetate (x2). The combined organic extractswere washed with brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulphate andfiltered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give aclear oil which was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 20%ethyl acetate in hexane) to give the title compound as a clear oil (40.9g, 86%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃), 7.45-7.29 (5H, m), 5.19 (2H, m), 2.92-2.73(2H, m), 2.49 (1H, m), 2.01 (1H, m), 1.84-1.49 (6H, m), 1.41 (9H, s) and1.38-1.19 (2H, m).

STEP D:

2R-Cyclopentylsuccinic acid 1-benzyl ester

2R-Cyclopentyl-succinic acid 1-benzyl ester 4-tert-butyl ester (Step C)(36.43 g, 109.6 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (300 ml) and TFA(200 ml) and the resulting solution was stored at 4° C. overnight. Thesolvents were removed under reduced pressure and the residue wasazeotroped with toluene (x3) to give the product as a brown oil (30.30g, quant). ¹ H-NMR: δ (CDCl₃), 11.50 (1 H, br s), 7.45-7.29 (5H, m),5.19 (2H, m), 2.94-2.74 (2H, m), 2.60 (1H. m), 2.07 (1H, m), 1.84-1.52(6H, m) and 1.38-1.22 (2H, m).

STEP E:

2R-Cyclopentylsuccinic acid 1-benzyl ester 4-(2-methylallyl) ester

2R-Cyclopentylsuccinic acid 1-benzyl ester (Step D) (23.5 g, 85 mmol)was dissolved in dichloromethane (200 ml) and EDC (19.5 g, 102 mmol),DMAP (200 mg, catalytic) and 2-methyl 2-propen-1-ol (7.5 ml, 89 mmol)were added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperatureovernight. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and theresidue was dissolved in ethyl acetate. The organic solution was washedsuccessively with 1 M hydrochloric acid, 1 M sodium carbonate and brine,then dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered. The solvent was removedunder reduced pressure to leave an oil which was purified by columnchromatography (silica gel, 20% ethyl acetate in hexane) to give thetitle compound as a colourless oil (21.4 g, 76%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃),7.36-7.27 (5H, m), 5.19-5.07 (2H, m), 4.93 (2H, d, J=5.4 Hz), 4.46 (2H,s), 2.89-2.71 (2H, m), 2.58 (1H, m), 2.03 (1H, m), 1.73 (3H, s),1.64-1.49 (6H, m), 1.36-1.16 (2H, m).

STEP F:

2S-Cyclopentyl-3 R-(2-methylallyl)succinic acid 4-benzyl ester

Diisopropylamine (29.3 ml, 209 mmol) was taken up in dry THF (700 ml)and cooled to -78° C. under argon before addition of a 2.3 M solution ofbutyllithium in hexanes (83.3 ml, 192 mmol). The reaction was allowed towarm briefly to -30° C. and then cooled back to -78° C.2R-Cyclopentylsuccinic acid 1-benzyl ester 4-(2-methylallyl) ester (StepE) (57.54 g, 174 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirredfor 45 minutes. TESCI (32.2 ml, 192 mmol) was added and, after stirringfor a further 30 minutes at -78° C., the reaction mixture was warmed to55° C. and stirred overnight. The reaction was quenched by addition of1M hydrochloric acid in methanol and the solvents were removed underreduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washedsuccessively with 1 M hydrochloric acid and brine, dried over magnesiumsulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give abrown oil. Purification by column chromatography (silica gel, 10%methanol in dichloromethane) afforded the title compound as a yellow oil(24.74 g, 43%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃), 7.36 (5H, m), 5.12 (2H, m), 4.71(2H, d, J=11.2 Hz) 2.94 (1H, m), 2.74 (1H, dd, J=8.3, 8.4 Hz), 2.33 (1H,m), 2.14 (2H, m),1.89-1.45 (6H, br m), 1.68 (3H, s) and 1.28 (2H, br m)

STEP G:

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-hex-5-enoic acid benzylester

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-(2-methylallyl)succinic acid 4-benzyl ester (Step F)(38.2 g, 115.6 mmol) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (1 1) and to thesolution were added EDC (24.4 g, 127.1 mmol) and HOBt (17.18 g, 127mmol). The mixture was heated to reflux under an argon blanket for 2hours before allowing to cool to room temperature. The organic solutionwas washed successively with 1 M hydrochloric acid and 1 M sodiumcarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered. To thefiltrate was added tert-leucine N-methylamide (18.3 g, 127.1 mmol) andthe mixture was stirred and heated at reflux overnight under a blanketof argon. After cooling to room temperature the reaction mixture waswashed with 1 M hydrochloric acid, and 1 M sodium carbonate solution,dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give thedesired product as a brown oil (45.1 g, 85%). ¹ H-NMR; 6 (CDCl₃): 7.35(5H, s), 6.68 (1H, m), 6.56 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 5.11 (2H, m), 4.60 (2H,d, J=21 Hz), 4.32 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 2.75 (3H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.31 (1 H,m), 2.09 (1H, m), 1.40-1.81 (10H, br m), 1.62 (3H, s), 1.23 (1H, m) and0.97 (9H, s).

STEP H:

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-hexanoicacid

2S-Cyclopentyl-3S-(2,2-dimethyl-1-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-hex-5-enoicacid benzyl ester (Step G) (47.4 g, 103.7 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol(1 l) and the solution was placed under a blanket of argon. 10%Palladium on charcoal (0.34 g) was added and a fine stream of hydrogengas was passed through the suspension for 15 minutes and the solutionwas left under an atmosphere of hydrogen gas overnight with stirring.TLC showed that all the starting material had been consumed. The systemwas purged with argon and the catalyst was removed by filtration.Solvent was evaporated to give the desired product as a white foam (36g, 94%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 7.94 (1H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 7.81 (1H, d, J=9.2Hz), 4.19 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 2.71 (1H, m), 0.89 (9H, s), 2.60 (3H, d,J=4.6 Hz), 2.51 (1H, dd, J=5.9, 6.0 Hz), 1.91 (1H, m), 1.15-1.80 (11H,br m), 0.79 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz).

The compounds of Examples 3 to 17 were prepared by analogy with Example1, starting from the appropriate cycloalkyl- or heterocyclylacetic acidand using the appropriate tert- leucine amide. Where the desiredcycloalkyl- or heterocyclylacetic acids are not commercially availablethey were prepared by analogy with the method described below inIntermediate example 2 for (4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)acetic acid, whichwas used in the preparation of Example 13.

INTERMEDIATE EXAMPLE 2

4-tert-Butylcyclohexylacetic acid ##STR18##

STEP A:

(4-tert-Butylcyclohexylidene)acetic acid methyl ester

4-tert-Butylcyclohexanone (8.62 g, 56 mmol) was dissolved in toluene(200 ml). Methoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane (56.1 g, 168mmol) was added with stirring and the reaction mixture was heated underreflux for 3 days. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue wasdissolved in hot hexanes (100 ml) and cooled to room temperature. Theprecipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated in vacuo toafford a yellow oil which was then purified by chromatography (silicagel, hexane/ethyl acetate, 2:1 as eluant) to give the title compound asan oil (10.78g, 92%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃) 5.60 (1H, s), 3.87 (1H, m),3.69 (3H, s), 2.38-2.10 (2H, m), 2.03-1.77 (3H, m), 1.36-1.02 (3H, m)and 0.87 (9H, s).

STEP B:

(4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl)acetic acid methyl ester

(4-tert-Butylcyclohexylidene)acetic acid methyl ester (10.78 g, 51.3mmol) was dissolved in methanol (50 ml). Palladium hydroxide on carbon(1.0 g) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at roomtemperature under an atmosphere of hydrogen overnight. The catalyst wasthen removed by filtration through celite and the filtrate wasevaporated in vacuo to a clear oil (9.81 g, 91%). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃) (asa mixture of cis-trans isomers), 3.67 (3H, s), 2.38 (1H, d, J=8 Hz),2.18 (1H, d, 7 Hz), 1.85-1.44 (5H, m), 1.20-0.89 (5H, m) and 0.86 (9H,s).

STEP C:

(4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl)acetic acid

(4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl)acetic acid methyl ester (9.81 g, 46.5 mmol) wasdissolved in methanol 950 ml) and cooled on an ice bath. 2M Sodiumhydroxide solution (50 ml, 100 mmol) was added with stirring. Whenaddition was complete the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to roomtemperature and was stirred overnight. The methanol was evaporated invacuo and the remaining aqueous phase was acidified to pH1 with 1Mhydrochloric acid. The aqueous phase was then extracted with ethylacetate(3x). The organic extracts were combined, dried over magnesiumsulphate, filtered and evaporated to give a white solid, (8.66 g, 94%).¹ H-NMR δ (CDCl₃) (as a mixture of cis-trans isomers), 2.43 (0.1 H, d,J=8Hz), 2.24 (0.9H, d, J =7 Hz), 1.92-1.47 (5H, m), 1.18-0.90 (5H, m)and 0.87 (9H, s).

EXAMPLE 3

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR19##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD). 8.18 (1H, m), 7.96 (1H, m), 7.66 (1H, m), 7.00 (1H,m), 4.41 (1H, s), 2.80-2.71 (1H, m), 2.49 (1H, m), 1.90 (1H, m),1.71-1.19 (10H, m) 1.06 (1 H, m), 0.99 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz)and 0.68 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 177.6, 177.2, 171.6,152.7, 149.1, 139.4, 121.1, 115.6, 63.1, 54.1, 47.7, 42.3, 42.2, 35.3,31.9, 29.7, 27.2, 27.1, 25.8, 24.4 and 22.0. IR: v_(max) (KBr): 3293,3057, 2871, 1709, 1648, 1578, 1535, 1467, 1434, 1368, 1297, 1224, 1183,777 cm⁻¹. Found: C 66.34%, H 8.68%, N 9.43%; C₂₄ H₃₇ N₃ O₄ requires C66.79%, H 8.64%, N 9.74%, O 14.83%.

EXAMPLE 4

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR20##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD, 4:1 mixture of diastereoisomers), 7.38 (0.2H, d,J=3.7 Hz), 7.34 (0.8H, d, J=3.5 Hz), 7.08 (0.2H, d, J=3.6 Hz), 7.00(0.8H, d, J=3.5 Hz), 4.44 (0.8H, s), 4.42 (0.2H, s), 2.75 (1 H, m), 2.47(1 H, dd, J=6.4, 6.6 Hz), 1.91-1.09 (11 H, br m), 1.02 (1.8H, s), 0.97(7.2H, s), 0.87 (1 H, m), 0.78 (3H, d, J=6.3 Hz) and 0.66 (3H, d, J=6.5Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 177.3, 170.7, 159.5, 138.4, 114.7, 62.4,54.1, 47.5, 42.2, 35.2, 34.7, 31.9, 29.8, 27.1, 27.0, 26.1, 24.4 and21.9.

EXAMPLE 5

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-dimethylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR21##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃), 7.86 (1H, m), 5.08 (1H, d, J=9.7 Hz), 3.19 (3H, s),2.96 (3H, s), 2.8-2.7 (2H, m), 1.97 (1H, m), 1.95-1.40 (11 H, m), 0.98(9H, s), 0.84 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.81 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz).

EXAMPLE 6

3R-[1S-(Adamantan-1-ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dimethylpropylcarbamoyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR22##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 7.58 (1H, d, J=9.3 Hz), 7.30 (1 H, br s), 4.12 (1H,d, J=9.4 Hz), 2.69 (1H, dt, J=3.2 and 10.7 Hz), 2.50 (1H, dd, J=5.9 and10.2 Hz), 2.0-1.2 (27H, m), 0.9 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.74(3H, d, J=6.6 Hz).

EXAMPLE 7

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(1-methyl-1-phenylethylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoic acid ##STR23##

¹ H-NMR δ (CDCl₃), 7.4-7.2 (6H, m), 6.45 (1 H, br s), 4.31 (1 H, d,J=9.5 Hz) 2.80-2.65 (2H, m), 1.97 (1H, m), 1.95-1.30 (17H, m), 0.99 (9H,s), 0.85 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz) and 0.78 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz).

EXAMPLE 8

2S-Cyclohexyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR24##

¹ H-NMR: δ (CD₃ OD), 7.95 (1H, m), 7.81 (1 H, br d, J=9.2 Hz), 4.21(1H,m), 2.81 (1H, dt. J=3.2 and 11.0 Hz), 2.60 (3H, m), 2.38 (1H, dd, J=3.8and 10.9 Hz), 1.86 (1H, m), 1.77-0.95 (13H, m), 0.91 (9H,s), 0.80 (3H,d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.71 (3H. d, J=6.5 Hz).

EXAMPLE 9

2S-Cyclohexyl-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR25##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CDCl₃), 10.32 (1H, brs), 8.46 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz), 8.16 (1H,m), 7.83 (1H, m), 7.66 (1H, m), 7.15 (1H, m), 4.78 (1H, d, J=10.8 Hz),3.01 (1H, m), 2.77 (1H, m), 2.03 (1H, m), 1.82-1.51 (10H, m), 1.36-1.21(3H, m), 1.12 (9H, s), 0.77 (3H, d. J=6.4 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.4Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CDCl₃), 181.3, 172.7 169.2, 151.3, 145.3, 140.2,119.8, 115.0, 62.8, 54.0, 46.9, 42.0, 37.6, 34.5, 32.4, 28.6, 27.0,26.4, 26.3, 26.2, 23.9 and 22.5. IR:v_(max) (KBr) 3299, 2929, 2853,1703, 1674, 1578, 1531, 1484, 1368, 1297, 1231,1170, 777 cm⁻¹. Found: C66.10%, H 8.79%, N 8.81%. C₂₅ H₃₉ N₃ O₄.0.5H₂ O requires C 66.05%, H8.87%, N 9.24%.

EXAMPLE 10

2S-Cyclopropyl-3R-(1S-2,2-dimethyl-1-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR26##

The title compound was used directly in Example 26 withoutcharacterisation.

EXAMPLE 11

3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(4-methylcyclohexyl)hexanoicacid ##STR27##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 4.21 (1H, s), 2.81 (1H, m), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.45 (1H,m), 1.81-1.23 (12H, m), 1.08 (1H, m), 0.91 (9H, s), 0.81 (6H, m) and0.71 (3H, m). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.5, 179.1, 175.5, 64.5, 57.9,46.4, 45.2, 44.9, 41.9, 41.7, 39.2, 38.9, 37.7, 36.3, 35.9, 35.5, 35.2,31.2, 26.8, 25.9, 24.5 and 20.6. IR:v_(max) (KBr): 3287, 2926, 2855,1712, 1635, 1553, 1464, 1370, 1247 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 12

3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(4-methylcyclohexyl)hexanoicacid ##STR28##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 8.18 (1H, m), 7.96 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.66 (1H, m),7.00 (1H, m), 4.49 (1H, s), 2.84 (1H, m), 2.47 (1H, m), 1.81-1.28 (12H,brm), 0.99 (9H, s) 0.80 (6H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 0.75 (1H, m) and 0.66 (3H, d,J=6.5 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.7, 179.4, 173.9, 155.1,151.5,141.6, 123.5, 118.1, 65.1, 57.7, 46.4, 45.0, 41.9, 37.9, 36.3,35.4, 31.3, 30.1, 26.8,26.1, 24.4 and 20.6. IR:v_(max) (KBr) 3290, 2956,2926, 1706, 1662,1635, 1576, 1533,1419, 1369,1298 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 13

2S-(4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl)-3R-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR29##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD, mixture of cyclohexyl cis-trans isomers) 4.20 (0.3H,s), 4.07 (0.7H, s), 2.60 (3H, s), 2.50 (1H, dd, J=6.9, 10.1 Hz), 2.40(1H, 2 overlapping dt's), 1.80-1.41 (12H, m) 0.95 (3H, s), 0.92 (6H, s),0.80 (1H, m), 0.78 (6H, s), 0.76 (6H, m) and 0.75 (3H, s).

EXAMPLE 14

3-[2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(tetrahydrothiophen-3-yl)hexanoicacid ##STR30##

The title compound was used directly in Example 30 withoutcharacterisation.

EXAMPLE 15

2S-Cyclobutyl-3R-(2,2-dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)-5-methylhexanoicacid ##STR31##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD, major diastereoisomer), 7.87 (1H, m), 7.69 (1H, m),4.05 (1H, s), 2.60-2.53 (4H, m), 2.44 (1H, m), 1.85-1.25 (9H, m),1.10-0.87 (10H, m), 0.79 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.6 Hz).

EXAMPLE 16

3R-[2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methyl-2S-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)hexanoic acid ##STR32##

Off-white solid. m.p. 165-168° C. ¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 4.16 (1H, s),3.44-3.34 (2H, m), 2.70-2.49 (9H, m), 2.38 (1 H, dd, J=11.1, 3.3 Hz),1.95-1.07 (7H, m), 0.99-0.87 (10H, m), 0.82 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.72(3H, d, J=6.4 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 181.3, 179.5, 175.4, 64.7,59.1, 58.0, 48.8, 45.7, 45.6, 37.7, 37.4, 32.9, 29.8, 29.6, 28.4, 26.9and 24.5.

EXAMPLE 17

2S-Cyclopentyl-3R-(2,2-dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropylcarbamoyl)undecanoicacid ##STR33##

The title compound was prepared from decanoic acid, by analogy withExample 1, using (S)-phenylmethyl-2-oxazolidinone in Step A and2-cyclopenten-1-ol in step E.

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 7.84 (1H, d, J=9.3 Hz), 4.15 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz),2.60 (3H, s), 2.59 (1H, m), 1.90 (1H, m), 1.75-1.30 (9H, br m), 1.15(14H. br m), 0.89 (9H, s) and 0.78 (3H, t, J=6.5 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃OD), 179.8, 179.3, 175.6, 64.6, 55.4, 44.6, 37.5, 35.6, 35.5, 34.2,33.1, 33.0, 32.7, 31.6, 30.7, 29.6, 28.4, 28.2, 26.1 and 16.9. IR;v_(max) (KBr); 3292, 2958, 2857,1705, 1635, 1545, 1467, 1397, 1368, 1189cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 18

2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴ -[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR34##

To a cooled solution of2S-cyclopentyl-3S-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl]-5-methylhexanoic acid (Example 1) (17.45 g, 47.5 mmol) in DMF(180 ml) was added HOBt (7.7 g, 56.9 mmol) and EDC (10.9 g, 56.9 mmol).The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour then at room temperature for2 hours to ensure complete formation of the active ester. The solutionwas cooled back to 0° C. and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (4.95 g, 71.2mmol) was added, followed by NMM (7.83 ml, 71.2 mmol) and the reactionmixture was allowed to warm to room temperature then stirred overnight.The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was partitioned betweendiethyl ether and water. The resulting precipitate was collected byfiltration and slurried in ethyl acetate. The mixture was heated atreflux for 1 hour and then cooled to room temperature and the whitesolid was collected by filtration. Recrystallisation from methanol-DIPEafforded the title compound as a white solid (6.1 g, 35%; 12:1 mixturediastereomers) m.p. 220° C. (decomp). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD, majordiastereoisomer), 7.82 (1 H, d, J=8.9 Hz), 4.13 (1H, m), 2.71 (1H, ddd,J=10.8, 3.4, 3.4 Hz), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.17 (1H, dd, J=10.4, 6.0 Hz), 1.80(1H, m), 1.67-1.25 (8H, m), 1.16-0.99 (3H, m), 0.91 (9H,s), 0.80 (3H, d,J=6.4 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 177.1,173.1, 172.5, 62.6, 50.9, 47.6, 42.7, 42.5, 35.0, 32.0, 29.6, 27.3,27.0, 26.0, 25.6, 24.5, 22.0. IR; v_(max) (KBr); 3376, 3294, 2957,1630,1542, 1466, 1368 cm⁻¹. Found: C 62.58%, H 9.78%, N 10.95%; C₂₀ H₃₇ N₃ O₄requires C 62.63%, H 9.72%, N 10.96%.

The following compounds were similarly prepared from the appropriatecarboxylic acids (Examples 3-17):

EXAMPLE 19

2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴ -[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutyl-succinamide ##STR35##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 8.18 (1H, m), 7.96 (1H, m), 7.66 (1H, m), 7.00 (1H,m), 4.39 (1H, s), 2.80 (1H, m), 2.17 (1H, m), 1.85 (1H, m), 1.68-1.33(9H, m), 1.10-0.92 (11H, m), 0.80 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.66 (3H, d,J=6.5 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.8, 175.0,173.9, 155.1, 151.5,141.8, 123.4, 118.0, 65.8, 53.5, 49.8, 45.3, 44.9, 37.6, 34.5, 32.3,29.6, 29.2, 28.0, 27.9, 26.9 and 24.3. IR: v_(max) (KBr) 3263, 2958,2871, 1651, 1579, 1519, 1470, 1438, 1368, 1298, 1150, 1002 and 779 cm⁻¹.Found: C 63.65%, H 8.31%, N 11.73%; C₂₄ H₃₈ N₄ O₄ requires C 64.55%, H8.58%, N 12.55%, 0 14.33%.

EXAMPLE 20

2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴ -[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(thiazol-2-yl)carbamoylpropyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR36##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 7.33 (1H, d, J=3.6Hz.), 7.00 (1H, d, J=3.7Hz.),4.41 (1H, s), 2.75 (1H, m), 2.14 (1H, dd, J=6.4, 6.5Hz.), 1.91-1.34(11H,m), 0.97 (9H, s), 0.86 (1H, m), 0.78 (3H, d, J=6.4Hz.), and 0.64 (3H, d,J=6.4Hz.). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 177.6, 172.6, 170.6,138.4,114.6,62.7,51.2, 47.2,42.9,42.4, 35.0, 32.0, 30.1, 27.0. 26.8. 25.6, 24.4 and 21.9.

EXAMPLE 21

2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴ -(1S-dimethylcarbamoyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl) -N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR37##

¹ H-NMR; δ ((CD₃)₂ SO), 10.39 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 8.67 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz),7.84 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 4.72 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 3.07 (3H, s), 2.79 (3H,s), 2.77 (1H, m), 2.18 (1H, dd, J=5.3, 10.3 Hz), 1.89-1.21 (11H, m),1.04 (1H, m), 0.94 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d,J=6.4 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (DMSO), 179.3, 175.8, 174.4, 59.1, 53.6, 50.2,46.0, 42.7, 40.1, 39.3, 35.4, 32.9, 31.5, 30.3, 29.3, 29.1 and 27.1. IR:v_(max) (KBr) 3274, 2956, 1626,1507 cm⁻¹. Found: C 63.27%, H 10.06%, N10.60%; C₂₁ H₃₉ N₃ O₄ requires C 63.45%, H 9.89%, N 10.57%.

EXAMPLE 22

N⁴ -[1S-(Adamantan-1-ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dimethylpropyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR38##

¹ H-NMR; δ ((CD₃)₂ SO), 10.39 (1H, s), 8.69 (1H, s), 7.62 (1H, d, J=9.3Hz), 7.23 (1H, s), 4.18 (1H, d, J=9.5 Hz), 2.73 (1H, m), 2.22 (1H, dd.J=5.1. 10.5 Hz), 2.05-1.13 (22H, m), 1.19-0.93 (5H, m), 0.90 (9H, s),0.83 (3H, d. J=6.3 Hz) and 0.75 (3H, d, J=7.0 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (DMSO),178.9, 174.3, 65.5. 55.9, 53.3, 50.8, 46.2, 45.9, 41.1, 36.7, 35.4,33.9, 32.7, 31.8, 30.4, 29.3 and 27.0. IR: v_(max) (KBr) 3275, 2948,1678, 1522, 1367 cm⁻¹. Found: C 67.25%, H 9.99%, N 8.11%; C₂₉ H₄₉ N₃O₄.0.8H₂ O requires C 67.22%, H 9.84%, N 8.11%.

EXAMPLE 23

2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(1-methyl-1-phenylethylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR39##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 8.06 (1 H, s), 7.66 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 7.30-7.00(5H, m), 4.23 (1H, d, J=9.0 Hz), 2.69 (1H, m), 2.17 (1H, dd, J=5.7, 10.5Hz), 1.93-1.22 (10H, m), 1.58 (3H, s), 1.46 (3H, s), 1.20-0.88 (2H, m),0.93 (9H, s), 0.73 (3H, J=6.5 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR;6 (CD₃ OD), 179.4,174.7, 173.8, 150.6, 131.5, 129.6, 128.4, 64.8, 59.4,59.3, 53.2, 49.6, 45.1, 44.9, 37.6, 43.5, 33.0, 31.8. 31.1, 29.8, 29.2,27.9. 27.2 and 24.1. IR: vmax(KBr) 3317, 2961, 1643, 1519 cm⁻¹. Found: C68.60%, H 9.43%, N 8.46%; C₂₈ H₄₅ N₃ O₄.0.2H₂ O requires C 68.45%, H9.31%, N 8.55%.

EXAMPLE 24

2S-Cyclohexyl-N⁴ -[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR40##

White solid. m.p. 230° C. (dec.). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 7.86 (1H, m),4.18 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 2.79 (1H, m), 2.60 (3H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 2.05 (1H,dd, J 10.8, 3.7 Hz), 1.87 (1H, m), 1.63-1.31 (6H, m), 1.14-1.00 (7H, m),0.92 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.71 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz). ¹³C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.2, 175.4, 174.1, 64.6, 55.5. 47.8, 46.0, 45.0,42.3, 37.6, 36.2, 31.5, 30.4, 30.3, 29.9, 29.7, 29.4, 26.4, 26.7 and24.4. IR (KBr) v_(max) 3292, 2931, 2854, 1637,1559, 1513, 1466,1460,1413, 1387, 1368, 1257,1195 and 1012 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 25

2S-Cyclohexyl-N⁴ -[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR41##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 8.19 (1H, m), 7.97 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.66 (1H, m),7.01 (1H, m), 4.48 (1H, s), 2.84 (1H, m), 2.08 (1H, dd, J=10.9, 3.8 Hz),1.89 (1H, m). 1.63-1.25 (8H, m), 1.08-0.94 (14H. m), 0.79 (3H, d. J=6.4Hz) and 0.65 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.5,174.2,173.8,155.1, 151.5,141.8, 123.5.118.1, 65.2, 55.5, 47.7, 45.1, 42.4, 37.9,36.2, 31.6, 30.4, 30.3, 29.9, 29.7, 29.4, 26.9 and 24.4. IR: v_(max)(KBr) 3322, 2927, 2852, 1657, 1578, 1516, 1434, 1368, 1297, 1216, 1194,1173, 1151, 1012,884, 779 cm⁻¹. Found: C 65.04%, H 8.94%, N 11.94%; C₂₅H₄₀ N₄ O₄ requires C 64.93%, H 8.76%, N 12.12%.

EXAMPLE 26

2S-Cyclopropyl-N⁴ -[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR42##

White solid. m.p. 200° C. (dec.). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 4.07, (1H, s),2.79 (1H, m), 2.60 (3H, s), 1.61 (1H, m), 1.43-1.26 (3H, m), 0.93 (9H,s), 0.80 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz), 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz), 0.35 (1H, m), 0.25(2H, m) and 0.06 (2H, m). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 178.9, 175.6, 65.4,54.7, 44.6, 37.1, 29.7, 29.4, 26.6, 26.4, 24.3, 15.8, 9.4 and 5.3. IR(KBr) v_(max) 3286, 2957, 2873, 1634, 1538, 1464, 1398, 1368, 1260, 1164and 1022 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 27

N¹ -[2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N⁴-hydroxy-2S-isobutyl-3R-(4-methylcyclohexyl)succinamide ##STR43##

¹ H-NMR; δ ((CD₃)₂ SO), 10.33 (1H, s), 8.68 (1H, brs), 7.78 (2H, m),4.21 (1H, d, J=8.9 Hz), 2.84 (2H, m), 2.54 (3H, d, J=4.4 Hz), 1.87-1.60(3H, m), 1.32 (9H, m), 0.95 (1H, m), 0.91 (9H, s), 0.81 (6H, m) and 0.72(3H, d, J=6.2 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ ((CD₃)₂ SO), 178.9,178.8, 175.5, 173.9,173.8, 65.2. 55.4, 48.6, 40.3, 38.9, 38.8, 37.3, 36.9, 36.5, 31.9, 31.8,30.3, 29.0, 27.8, 26.9 and 22.6. IR:v_(max) (KBr); 3299, 2955, 1640,1530, 1466, 1369 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 28

N¹ -[2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N⁴-hydroxy-2S-isobutyl-3R-(4-methylcyclohexylsuccinamide ##STR44##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 8.19 (1H, m), 7.96 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.69 (1H, m),7.00 (1H, m), 4.49 (1H, m), 2.85 (1 H, m), 2.22 (1 H, m), 1.69-1.15(12H, br m), 0.99 (9H, s), 0.79 (6H, m), 0.72 (1H, m) and 0.66 (3H, m).¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.6, 173.7, 155.1, 151.5, 141.6, 123.5,116.1,65.4, 55.2, 48.0, 45.1, 41.9, 39.1, 37.6, 35.9, 35.2, 31.3, 29.7, 26.9,26.0, 24.4, 20.7 and 16.8. IR:v_(max) (KBr); 3269, 2956, 2870, 1653,1579, 1521,1465, 1436, 1369, 1297 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 29

2S-(4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl)-N⁴-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR45##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 4.19 (0.85H, s), 4.06 (0.15H, s), 2.79 (1H, m),2.59 (3H, s), 2.39 (1H, dd. J=3.7, 4.1 Hz), 1.94-0.92 (12H, br m), 0.91(7.7H, s), 0.88 (1.3H, s), 0.84 (1H, m), 0.79 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz) and 0.72(12H, m). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 176.9, 176.7, 173.0, 62.1, 55.5, 52.7,46.1, 45.6, 42.6, 41.3, 40.0, 39.7, 35.3, 34.0, 33.1, 31.9, 29.2, 28.8,28.5, 28.4, 27.9, 27.3, 25.9, 24.4 and 22.0.

EXAMPLE 30

N¹ -(2.2-Dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N⁴-hydroxy-2-isobutyl-3S-(tetrahydrothiophen-2-yl)succinamide ##STR46##

¹ H-NMR δ (CD₃ OD), 4.17 (1H, d, J=9.0 Hz), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.83 (1H, m),2.77-2.02 (4H, br m), 1.70-0.94 (7H, br m), 0.90 (9H, s), 0.80 (3H, d,J=6.2 Hz) and 0.71 (3H, d, J=6.2 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD, majordiastereoisomer), 179.0, 175.3, 175.0, 64.9, 49.2, 49.9, 38.6, 37.6,37.4, 36.1, 34.6, 33.2, 32.6, 29.7, 28.4, 26.9 and 24.4. IR; v_(max)(KBr); 3315, 2958,1732, 1644, 1520, 1456, 1368, 1160 cm⁻¹. m/e (+FAB)424.22 ([M+Na]⁺), 402.24 ([M+H]⁺).

EXAMPLE 31

2S-Cyclobutyl-N⁴ -(2,2-dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide ##STR47##

m.p. 245° C. (dec.). ¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 3.99 (1 H, s), 2.61-2.51 (4H,m), 2.09 (1H, dd, J=10.3, 8.6 Hz), 1.85-1.57 (7H, m), 1.43-1.29 (2H,ni), 1.01-0.88 (10H, m), 0.78 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz) and 0.71 (3H, d, J=6.5Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.1, 175.5, 174.6, 65.5, 55.4, 49.0, 44.8,40.8, 37.1, 31.6, 29.7, 29.5, 29.1, 28.4, 26.9, 24.3 and 21.3.IR:v_(max) (KBr); 3293, 2959, 2871, 1637, 1525, 1469, 1413, 1386, 1369,1213, 1167 and 1026 cm⁻¹. Found: C 61.57%, H 9.29%, N 11.28%; C₁₉ H₃₅ N₃O₄.0.1H₂ O requires C 61.46%, H 9.56%, N 11.32%.

EXAMPLE 32

N¹ -[2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N⁴-hydroxy-2R-isobutyl-3S-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)succinamide ##STR48##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 4.17 (1H, s), 3.42 (2H, m), 2.82 (3H, m), 2.71 (3H,s), 2.60 (3H, s), 2.21 (1H, dd, J=10.9, 3.9 Hz), 2.13-1.25 (7H, m), 1.00(1H, m), 0.91 (9H, s), 0.81 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz) and 0.72 (3H, d, J=6.4Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 176. 172.8, 170.6, 62.4, 56.1, 55.8, 50.9,45.2, 43.8, 42.7, 35.3, 35.1, 29.9, 27.4, 26.9, 26.2, 26.0, 24.4 and22.0.

EXAMPLE 33

2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴ -(2,2-dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-octylsuccinamide ##STR49##

¹ H-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 4.13 (1H, s), 2.69 (1H, m), 2.60 (3H, s), 2.21 (1H,dd, J=10.6, 5.9 Hz), 1.90-1.20 (9H, br m), 1.15 (14H, br s), 0.90 (9H,s) and 0.78 (3H, t, J=6.4 Hz). ¹³ C-NMR; δ (CD₃ OD), 179.5, 175.6,174.9, 64.8, 45.2, 37.4, 35.6, 35.4, 34.3, 33.2, 33.0, 32.7, 31.9, 30.6,29.6, 28.4, 28.0, 27.9, 26.1 and 16.8. IR:v_(max) (KBr) 3305.2929,2857,1634, 1532, 1467, 1369, 1241, 1195, 1161 cm⁻¹.

We claim:
 1. A compound of general formula (I) ##STR50## wherein: X is a--CONHOH group;R₁ is a cycloalkyl or a cycloalkenyl; R₂ is a C₁ -C₁₂alkyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂ -C₁₂ alkynyl, phenyl(C₁ -C₆, alkyl)-,cycloalkyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, cycloalkenyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, phenoxy(C₁ -C₆alkyl)-, phenyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)O(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-, phenyl(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)S(C₁-C₆ alkyl)-, or any one of which may be optionally substituted by C₁ -C₆alkyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, halo, cyano (--CN), phenyl, a substituted phenyl;R₃ is the characterising group of a natural or non-natural α amino acidin which any functional groups may be protected, R₄ is (a) an optionallysubstituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl ring or (b) a group --CHR^(x)R^(y) wherein R^(x) and R^(y) each independently represents anoptionally substituted phenyl ring which may be linked covalently toeach other by a bond or by a C₁ -C₄ alkylene or C₂ -C₄ alkenylenebridge, or (c) a group of formula --(Z--O)_(n) --Z wherein Z is straightor branched C₁ -C₆ alkyl optionally interrupted by one or morenon-adjacent S and/or N atoms, n is an integer >1, and no continuouslinear sequence of atoms in the group R₄ is >12, or (d) a straight orbranched C₁ -C₆ alkyl group, optionally interrupted by one or morenon-adjacent S and/or N atoms, which is substituted by at least twosubstituents of formula --(Z)_(p) --(OZ)_(q) wherein Z is straight orbranched C₁ -C₆ alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more non-adjacentS and/or N atoms, p is 0 or 1, q is 1 or 2, and no continuous linearsequence of atoms in the group R₄ is >12, or (e) hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ alkyl,C₁ -C₄ perfluoroalkyl, or a group D-(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)- wherein D ishydroxy, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ alkylthio, acylamino, optionallysubstituted phenyl, NH₂, or mono- or di-(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)amino; or R₃ andR₄ taken together represent a divalent chain of formula --C(R^(a))(R^(b))--A--Alk--, wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are independently hydrogen orC₁ -C₆ alkyl, A is a bond, --O--, --S--, --S--S--, --NH-- or --NR^(a) --wherein R^(a) is C₁ -C₆ alkyl, and Alk is C₁ -C₆ alkylene; R₅ ishydrogen or a C₁ -C₆ alkyl group;or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof.2. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stereochemistry is asfollows:C atom carrying the R₁ and X groups--S, C atom carrying the R₂group--R, C atom carrying the R₃ group--S.
 3. A compound as claimed inany one of claims 1 to 2 wherein R₂ is n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl,n-nonyl, n-decyl, phenylpropyl, 4-chlorophenylpropyl,4-methylphenylpropyl, or 4-methoxyphenylpropyl.
 4. A compound as claimedin any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein R₂ is iso-butyl, n-octyl,benzyloxypropyl, phenoxybutyl or 4-phenyl-phenylpropyl.
 5. A compound asclaimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein R₃ isC₁ -C₆ alkyl,benzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-hydroxybenzyl, 2,- 3-, or 4-benzyloxybenzyl, 2,-3-, or 4-C₁ -C₆ alkoxybenzyl, or benzyloxy(C₁ -C₆ alkyl)-; or thecharacterising group of a natural α amino acid, in which any functionalgroup may be protected, any amino group may be acylated and any carboxylgroup present may be amidated; or a group --[Alk]_(n) R₆ where Alk is a(C₁ -C₆)alkyl or (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl group optionally interrupted by one ormore --O--, or --S-- atoms or --N(R₇)-- groups, n is 0 or 1, and R₆ isan optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group; or a benzylgroup substituted in the phenyl ring by a group of formula --OCH₂ COR₈where R₈ is hydroxyl, amino, (C₁ -C₆)alkoxy, phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)alkylamino, di((C₁ -C₆)alkyl)amino, phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkylamino, theresidue of an amino acid or acid halide, ester or amide derivativethereof, said residue being linked via an amide bond, said amino acidbeing selected from glycine, α or β alanine, valine, leucine,isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, serine, threonine,cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, lysine, histidine,arginine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid; or a heterocyclic((C₁-C₆)alkyl group, either being unsubstituted or mono- or di-substitutedin the heterocyclic ring with halo, nitro, carboxy, (C₁ -C₆)alkoxy,cyano, (C₁ -C₆)alkanoyl, trifluoromethyl (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, hydroxy, formyl,amino, (C₁ -C₆)alkylamino, di-(C₁ -C₆)alkylamino, mercapto, (C₁-C₆)alkylthio, hydroxy(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, mercapto(C₁ -C₆)alkyl or (C₁-C₆)alkylphenylmethyl; or a group --CR_(a) R_(b) R_(c) in which:each ofR_(a), R_(b) and R_(c) is independently hydrogen, (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₂-C₆)alkenyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkynyl, phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkyl;or R_(c) is hydrogen, (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkynyl,phenyl(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, or (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkyl, and R_(a) and R_(b) togetherwith the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3 to 8 memberedcycloalkyl or a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring; or R_(a), R_(b) andR_(c) together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form atricyclic ring (for example adamantyl); or R_(a) and R_(b) are eachindependently (C₁ C₆)alkyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkynyl, phenyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl, or a group as defined for R_(c) below other than hydrogen, orR_(a) and R_(b) together with the carbon atom to which they are attachedform a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, and R is hydrogen, --OH, --SH,halogen, --CN, --CO₂ H, (C₁ -C₄)perfluoroalkyl, --CH₂ OH, --CO₂ (C₁-C₆)alkyl, --O(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --O(C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, --S(C₁ -C₅)alkyl,--SO(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --SO₂ (C₁ -C₆) alkyl, --S(C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, --SO(C₂-C₆)alkenyl, --SO₂ (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl or a group --Q--W wherein Qrepresents a bond or --O--, --S--, --SO-- or --SO₂ -- and W represents aphenyl phenylalkyl, (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkyl, (C₃ -C₈)cycloalkylalkyl, (C₄-C₈)cycloalkenyl, (C₄ -C₈)cycloalkenylalkyl, heteroaryl orheteroarylalkyl group, which group W may optionally be substituted byone or more substituents independently selected from, hydroxyl, halogen,--CN, --CO₂ H, --CO₂ (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --CONH₂, --CONH(C₁ -C₆)alkyl,--CONH(C₁ -C₅ alkyl)₂, --CHO, --CH₂ OH, (C₁ -C₄)perfluoroalkyl, --O(C₁-C₆)alkyl, --S(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --SO(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --SO₂ (C₁ -C₆)alkyl,--NO₂, --NH₂, --NH(C₁ -C₆)alkyl, --N((C₁ -C₆)alkyl)₂, --NHCO(C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₁ -C₆)alkyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkenyl, (C₂ -C₆)alkynyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, (C₄ -C₈)cycloalkenyl, phenyl or benzyl.
 6. A compound asclaimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein R₃ is iso-butyl,1-benzylthio-1-methylethyl, or 1-methylthio-1-methylethyl.
 7. A compoundas claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein R₃ is t-butyl or1-mercapto-1-methylethyl.
 8. A compound as claimed in any one of claims1, 2, or 3 to 7 wherein R₄ iscyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl or adamantyl; optionally substitutedphenyl, a group --CHR^(x) R^(y) wherein R^(x) and R^(y) independentlyrepresent optionally substituted phenyl,2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl,1,1-dimethyl-2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl,2-(2-ethoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl, 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl,2-(2-(3-methoxypropoxymethoxy)ethyl, 3-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl,2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)propyl,3-(2-methoxyethoxy)propyl, 2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxyethyl)propyl,2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxyethyl)butyl, or2-methyl-2,2-di(2-methoxymethyl)propyl; ethyl, n- or iso-propyl, n-,sec- or tert-butyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl,2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl,methoxypropyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-methoxypropyl,2,2-dimethyl-3-ethoxypropyl, 2-ethylthioethyl, 2-acetoxyethyl,N-acetyl-aminoethyl, 3-(2-pyrrolidone)propyl, optionally substitutedphenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, or phenylpentyl.
 9. A compoundas claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein R₄ is3-methoxyphenyl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, thiazol-2-yl,4-ethoxycarbonylmethylthiazol-2-yl, 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl or4-tert-butylthiazol-2-yl.
 10. A compound as claimed in any one of claims1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein R₄ is 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl.
 11. Acompound as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 whereinR₄ is methyl.
 12. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6 or 7 wherein R₄ is a group --CHR^(x) R^(y) wherein R^(x) and R^(y)each independently represents phenyl or 4-chlorophenyl, or wherein R₄ is9-H-fluoren-9-yl.
 13. A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2,or 3 to 12 wherein R₅ is hydrogen.
 14. 2S-Cyclopentyl-N⁴-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl)]-N ¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, and salts solvates and hydratesthereof.
 15. A compound selected from the group consistingof:2S-cyclopentyl-N⁴ -(1S-dimethylcarbamoyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, N⁴-[1S-(adamantan-1-ylcarbamoyl)-2,2-dimethylpropyl]-2S-cyclopentyl-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, 2S-cyclopentyl-N⁴-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(1-methyl-1-phenylethylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, 2S-cyclohexyl-N⁴-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, 2S-cyclopropyl-N⁴-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, N¹-[2,2-dimethyl-1S-(methylcarbamoyl)propyl]-N⁴-hydroxy-2S-isobutyl-3R-(4-methylcyclohexyl)succinamide,2S-(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)-N⁴-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, 2S-cyclobutyl-N⁴-(2,2-dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-isobutylsuccinamide, 2S-cyclopentyl-N⁴-(2,2-dimethyl-1S-methylcarbamoylpropyl)-N¹-hydroxy-3R-octylsuccinamide,and salts solvates and hydrates thereof.16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as claimed in anyone of claims 1, 2, 3 to 7, or 14 to 15, together with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 17. A composition as claimed inclaim 16, adapted for oral administration.